Living in Marbella provides the best of both worlds, high-class resorts offering sparkling swimming pools, the latest in designer shopping, and award-wining dining spots as well as the more Andalusian vibe with its cute churches and white-washed houses, cafe-dotted plazas and shaded narrow alleyways to get lost in.
The nature surrounding Marbella also provides a breath of fresh air. There are beaches to suit everyone, from the glamorous Puerto Banus near the luxury yacht-filled marina to Nagüeles Beach, for a more understated and calming vibe. Added to this are beautiful natural spots nearby for hiking and climbing.
If you’re a golfer then Marbella is a dream, hosting its own golf courses and being a short drive away from the Costa del Golf, and its green expanse of courses, you’ll never get tired of its variety in layouts and view of the mountains or the coast.
Marbella golf course at sunset
If you’re wondering where to live in Andalucia, then you can’t go far wrong with Marbella.
Living in Marbella: essential information
Puerto Banus beach
Who lives in Marbella?
Spain’s National Institute of Statistics (INE) puts the population of Marbella’s province at 156,295 with just over seven thousand more females than males residing there. The latest figures from the Andalucia Institute of Statistics show that 12.7 percent of residents are expats of which the majority hail from the UK. The average age is just over 40 years, with just under a quarter of the population under 20 years and around 16 percent at retirement age.
Picturesque narrow street in Marbella Old Town
Healthcare in Marbella
Marbella is well served by health services with three public health centres in the town itself. These are Leganitos, Ricardo Soriano and Las Albarizas and are all public health centres or centros de salud. These for residents who work in Marbella and pay into the social security system. Similar to GP offices, they offer basic investigations and referrals to specialists for more complicated issues and needs.
If you need more specialised treatment, you will usually be referred to the Hospital Costa del Sol which is a 15-minute drive from the old town or a 20-30 minute bus ride. This hospital offers a full and wide range of services and specialists.
If you have private healthcare insurance, there are many clinics to choose from. Excelan Private Clinic offers services in English, Spanish and Russian, an all-hours emergency department, and in-house visits. The HC Marbella private hospital offers a wide range of services and is very close to Puerto Banus marina.
Living in Marbella, you will not be short of options when it comes to healthcare. Brush up more on healthcare in Spain by reading our guide.
Marbella boardwalk
Working in Marbella
According to the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and local government, the job sector in Marbella is heavily focused on wholesale and retail trade. The second largest employment sector is real estate with construction coming in close behind. Other sectors with a fair number of workers include professional activities and technical positions, as well as hospitality in hotels, restaurants and resorts.
If you’re moving to Marbella, there are several ways you can find work. As there’s a high percentage of Brits living here, there are also many opportunities for English speaking positions. Bear in mind that due to Brexit not all of these roles will be available, if they don’t meet the specific visa requirements.
Some comprehensive sites to search on include English Jobs Spain with tech, real estate, sales jobs posted daily. Searching Glassdoor for English speaking positions, you’ll likely find a variety of roles requiring English language skills.
Searching Linkedin or Indeed Spain can give you a variety of results including hospitality or office jobs in Marbella or opportunities to work remotely from Spain, which you can do on the Digital Nomad Visa. Remember to use the language and remote/on-site options to narrow down your search results.
If you are considering working remotely, possibly from a home office, you’ll want to know about the internet speeds in the area. The Fair Internet Report shows that the average internet speed for Marbella is 202 Mbps, the fastest speed as 948 Mbps and the most popular provider named Olivenet Network.
If you want to be in a more professional and social environment you may want to choose co-working instead, of which there are several to choose from in Marbella. A popular and highly rated choice is the aptly-named Work in Marbella coworking with its bare-brick walls and industrial chic decor, and a good balance of work and community. It’s around a 20-minute drive from Marbella centre. Alternatively, Our Space is light and airy and features garden walls and a breezy design to suit its location just a few minutes walk to the beach.
There are a variety of public and private schools in the area. Keep in mind, most of the public schools will be taught in Spanish, while there are private schools offering education in several different languages.
CEIP Vicente Aleixandre is the only bilingual school in Marbella and caters for early childhood through to primary school students. There are several more school, or colegio options for childhood to primary education. One good option for secondary school ages is IES Bahía Marbella, a short walk from the old town.
Marbella also has a few international schools. The British International School of Marbella offers a British curriculum and all lessons taught in English. Children and youth aged 2-18 years can take IGCSEs and A-Levels here.
If you’d prefer an option with a IB, British, and Spanish curriculum, Swans International School for ages 3 to 18 years is a good option. Students will be awarded with IGCSEs or an IB Diploma.
Al fresco dining in pretty Orange Square, Marbella
Transport in Marbella
Public transport in and around Marbella is good. Buses run fairly regularly from Marbella Old Town to Puerto Banus and the journey takes around 30-45 mins depending on which service you take. Avanza runs a direct service from Marbella to Málaga, which takes one hour and runs frequently.
But, to fully take advantage of the possibilities of the area, having your own car would be preferable and will likely cut your travel time considerably.
Brush up on your knowledge about driving in Spain with our guide.
Things to do in Marbella
Living in Marbella provides a lot of options for residents, from watersports, sailing and wildlife watching or simply taking a cruise on the Mediterranean, to playing a round of golf or two. Or you could simply enjoy the al fresco lifestyle, sampling tapas and a refreshing tipple with friends on a historic plaza.
Parks and nature
Cabopino Dunes near Marbella at sunset
As well as its beach resorts, restaurants and golf courses, there are lots of natural spots nearby to enjoy for hiking.
The Cabopino Dunes lie 30 minutes from the old town and are located on the beaches of Cabopino and Las Chapas. The undulating sand hills give a new perspective to the coastline. They also provide wooden walkways for a spectacular viewpoint over the coast.
You can also enjoy beautiful hikes and views from the Pico de la Concha mountain peak, which towers over Marbella old town. It’s just a 20 minute drive to the start of the trail. Another great viewpoint is Mirador de Juanar at the peak of La Concha mountain with its landscape of pine, olive trees and even wild orchids.
Lazy beach days
Marbella beach
Of course, beaches are one of Marbella’s main draws, as with many locations on the Costa del Sol. The tranquil Playa de Venus features a lovely promenade for evening strolls and eateries along the way. Another option lies a 20-minute walk to the west of the old town is Playa de la Fontanilla with several facilities. For the more adventurous, watersports are available here. Playa de Nagueles is the choice for those who like a touch of luxury, lined with chic beach clubs and gourmet restaurants.
If you’re looking for even more exclusive and luxurious spots, head to Puerto Banús Blue Flag Beach which has a beautiful view of the mountains. With 1km of sand and calm waters, it’s ideal for families too.
Spacious San Pedro de Alcántara beach is another great option, which stretches long and far and features a wide promenade ideal for strolls or cycle rides.
Eating out
Plaza de los Naranjos square in the old centre of Marbella
The area has many eateries for different budgets and tastes. One of the more upscale restaurants is Kava, serving up Andalusian cuisine using specially selected local ingredients and presented beautifully. It lies between the Old Town and Venus Beach. A rustic-style tapas bar is Taberna El Bordón Marbella with a selection of traditional fare in a cute typical Andalusian building.
Another popular option is beach club style Baja Mar Bar de Playa which looks out onto the sea and is a breezy spot to try seafood, salads, and snacks with a drink of your choosing.
There are also several international cuisines to choose from in the area, such as Japanese, Chinese, Lebanese and American.
Expat clubs & activities in Marbella
Meetup is a good start for newbies in the area. You can find events like language exchanges, or get togethers for sunset drinks or more guided activities. Age Concern Marbella puts on regular events for the older community including theatre outings, coffee and computer sessions, and exercise sessions.
Marbella Info & Chat is a large Facebook group where you can post your questions and find out interesting happenings in the area. It has over 50 thousand members and is very active.
Puerto Banus Marina
Internations has a branch in Marbella, which has local groups in countries all over the world. It’s designed to help expats settle in and make friends in the area. The Marbella group offers Internations meetups, as well as specialised activities such as canyoning and exercise classes. Costa Women began as a way for expat women to stay in touch, meet and support each other. They now have meetings in 23 locations across Spain, as well as where they started in the Costa del Sol. The British Association of Marbella encourages social interaction and provides activities for its members including weekly coffee mornings, monthly lunches, theatre and concert trips. They also have a regular coffee morning every Wednesday at 11am currently held at the San Cristobal Hotel in Marbella.
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